ALEJANDRO BEDOYA reckons Rangers new boy Mervan Celik has the ability to become a real star at Ibrox - but only after he has had time to settle into the pace of the SPL.

Celik was the club's only signing in the January transfer window when he was recruited as a free agent after leaving former club GAIS.

His first start for the Scottish champions proved to be less than impressive when he was replaced after 45 minutes of a 2-0 defeat to Dundee United in the Scottish Cup last Sunday.

But, having played against Celik while in Sweden himself with Orebro, Bedoya believes the midfielder has plenty to offer at Ibrox.

The American said: "From what I saw of him in the Swedish season he's a player who creates things out of nothing sometimes and we could use that flair as well as his work rate.

"I played against him a couple of times and he came here on the back of a really good season. He might not be in the best form coming in because he's had a long close season.

"But he's a player that will go at guys and will score some goals as well as providing assists.

"He's another versatile player and I think he can fit in anywhere across those three forward positions and in midfield as well.

"It's good when you have a guy that can go out and attack guys and create things. He's one of those and hopefully he'll come along here at Rangers."

Bedoya, himself, has endured a difficult debut season and has so far been unable to establish himself in manager Ally McCoist's plans.

He told the club's official website: "I've noticed the speed is different. Everything here is 110 per cent and it took me a little bit to get used to it, but I feel like it's coming along now.

"He's just coming off a long off-season so I don't know how much he's feeling that right now, but it will take him a bit of time to adjust too because he's still a young guy."

Meanwhile, Celik's former club GAIS claim Rangers still owe them compensation for the 21-year-old but are trying to avoid paying on the basis that the Swedes did not attempt to retain the player's services.

GAIS sporting director Mats Persson was quoted in a number of newspapers as saying: "Rangers took a chance that we would not have a receipt to prove we offered him a contract. But it feels more like a desperate attempt to avoid paying.

"We've done everything exactly as we should. We could not have done any more. Our assistant manager Kjell Pettersson has spoken to Mervan and he thinks it's sad that we've come to this.

"We have not yet passed the date when Rangers had to pay the fee, so now we wait and see."